Folding receptacle.



No. 754,995, PATENTED MAE. 2z, 1904. A. GREENE. FOLDING' EEGEP'EACLE.

AErLIoATI'oN FILED un. a. 190s. .No IoDEL. .2 MEME-SHEET 1.

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110.754,995. A EATENTED-M AE.22,1904, A. GREENE.

FOLDING REGEPTAGLE.

EPPL'IUATIo-N FILED APE. a. 1eo a. afro MonEL. 2 snEETs-snEET 2.

WTNESSES.'

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Mm M ATTORNEY! Patented March 22,1904.v`

UNTTED STATES `PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED GREENE, OF MILVAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROBERT. A. KIEFER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

FOLDING RECEPTACLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,995, dated March 22, 1904.

Application filed April 3, 1903. Serial No. 150,867. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, t patty concern,.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED GREENE, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Tisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding' Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention .relates to improvements in folding receptacles, and is especially applicable to folding crates, boxes, trunks, &c.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of receptacle which can be readily folded and in which all the parts are permanently connected with each other, regard being also had for strength, durability, and rigidity.

In the following description reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which'- Figure l is a front view of my receptacle as it appears in condition for use. Fig. 2 is a view of the same as it is when folded. Fig. 3 is a plan view of my invention in .knockdown position as it appears preparatory to being rolled up to the folded position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the slats, drawn transversely of the slats through the hinge-leaf rivets. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view drawn on line w fc of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is aptail sectional view drawn on line y 3/ of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view drawn on line s s of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional View, the interlocking hook 28 engaging a catch on the rear wall. Fig. 9 is a perspective View of hook-bar 42. Fig. 10 is a side view of a tray, and Fig. l1 is a detail showing a modified form of hinge.

The views given in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, are drawn on a larger scale'than those given in the first three figures.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The walls of my receptacle are formed of slats l and 2,`which, respectively, compose the front and rear walls; slats 3 and 4, which compose the respective end walls; slats and 6, which compose the bottom wall; slats 7,which compose the top wall, and a slat 8, connected with the top wall and arranged to overlap the upper portion of the wall l, as indicated in Fig. l. All of the slats except those, 3 and 4, of

the end Walls are connected together by rows' of hinges located upon (or mortised into) the exterior surfaces of the slats. These hinges are formed by providing each slat with a hinge-leaf 10 for each row of hinges, a rivet ll being used to secure the hinge-leaf to the slat. Each of these hinge-leaves is provided with knuckles 12 and 13 at its respective ends, which interact with counterpart knuckles on the hinge-leaves of the adjacent slats. The hinge-leaves are connected by pintles 14.

The slats 3 and 4, composing the end walls, are permanently connected with the slats 1, composing the front wall, by hinges 16 of ordinary construction, the hinge-leaves being secured to the adjacent ends of the slats l and 3 (or 4) and attached to the inner surfaces of such slats, whereby the end slats are permitted to fold inwardly upon the slats l, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7, each slat 3 (or 4) being disconnected from the other end slats. The lower end slat is provided with hooks 18, which are adapted to enter curved recesses 2O in the bottom slats and engage underneath catch bars or plates 21 at the end of each corresponding bottom slat.

The ends of the slats 2, composing the-rear wall, are provided with recesses 23,V which are covered by catch-plates 24. Each of these plates is apertured at 25 and provided with a tongue 26, of resilient material, projecting into the aperture. The catch-plates are secured to the slats by rivets 27, and the tongue 26 is preferably formed integrally with the plate. The unhinged ends of the slats Band 4 are each provided with a hook 28, which is adapted to enter an aperture 25 in a corresponding plate 24 and engage underneath such plate at one side of the aperture. The resilient tongue 26. yields to permit the entrance of the hook, which when entered and engaged under the edge of the aperture permits the tongue to spring backwardlyf and abut the rear surface of the hook-shank, as

It will be observed that the slats of the front,

bottom, back, and top are all connected in a continuous series by the hinge-leaves 10 and pintles 11 and that all the slats of this series except the corner-slats have square-cut edge surfaces cui. e. the edge surfaces are at right angles to the side surfaces. These edge surfaces abut each other and prevent the slats from folding or doubling upon each other inwardly, while the location of the hinges on their outer surfaces leaves them free to double or fold upon each other outwardly. The corner-slats, however, have their abutting edges b beveled at an angle of forty-five degrees from their inner surfaces outwardly, whereby these slats may be adjusted upon their hinges yat right angles to each other when the receptacle is set up in position of use.

The terminal slat 8, connected with the'top wall of the receptacle, is provided with a hasp 32, preferably mortised into the slat, as shown. When the device is set up, as shown in Fig. l, this hasp registers with a staple 33 in one of the slats of the front wall, the staple being adapted to project through an aperture in the hasp. in which position it is secured by a padlock 34 of ordinary type. When the device is folded, as shown in Fig. 2, the hasp 32 registers with a staple 35 on the inner face of one of the back slats, permittingthe padlock 34 to be again used for locking the device in folded position.

Rails 36- project longitudinally from the under surfaces of the bottom corner-slats 6. These rails may be formed independently and attached to the bottom slats, or they may be formed integrally therewith, if desired. 38 represents handles secured to the top slats of the end walls.

When the receptacle is set up in condition for use, the end slats 3 and 4 are swung outwardly at right angles to the front slat and the hooks 28 engaged in the catch-plates 24 at the respective ends of the back slats 2, the hooks 18 on the lower end slats 3 and 4 entering the channels of the bottom slats 5 and 6 and engaging the catches 21. The top is then adjusted in position and the terminal slat 8 thereof locked to one of the front slats by the padlock 34, forming a closed receptacle of great strength.

To fold the receptacle, the padlock is unlocked and the end slats released from the catches 24 and 21 and folded against the front slats, when the sides and top may be spread out in the plane of the bottom, as shown in Fig. 3. Beginning with the slats composing the front and turning them upon each other toward the hinges the entire device may be rolled up, as shown in Fig.` 2. The hasp 32 is then secured to a staple 35 by means of the padlock,

`when the device will be securely held in its folded position. As the padlock is used for securing the device in positions of non-use as well as use, there is little danger of its becoming lost, and all the other parts are permanently connected. i

It will be understood that while the end slats are described as being hinged to the front wall they may, if desired, be secured to the back wall by hinges and to the front wall by hooks and catches. In either case four of the Walls are formed of a belt of interconnected sections, having detachable connection at the lock, and end sections, each having iieXible end connection with one of the belt-sections and detachable end connection with others of the beltsections. The slats may be made of any convenient width,or the walls may each be formed integrally in a single piece, if desired, although they are preferabl y formed in sections of a series of slats, as shown, for the sections can be rolled up, as shown, while if the walls were each formed of a single piece and the several pieces hinged at the corners they would require to be folded in a flat position one upon another.

While I have applied the term slat to the wall-sections, I do not use the term for the purpose of designating wood as the material of which my device is composed, for the slats may be made of metal or any other suitable material.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a bar 42, from which a series of hooks 18 are struck up, the bar being secured to the lower edges of the lower slats 3 and 4, with the hooks 18 projecting in position for use. This construction is stronger than a series of single hooks would be, and the use of the bar also facilitates assembling the device.

The tray shown in Fig. 10 is formed in the same manner as the receptacle itself, but without a cover. It is provided with handles 43 to facilitate lifting it out of the receptacle if used therein.

In Fig. 11 a construction is illustrated in which wire is substituted for the hinge-leaves 10. In this construction each piece of wire 44 is provided with an eye 45 at one end and a hook 46 at the other end in a plane at right angles to the plane of the eye. Staples 47 secure the wires to the slats, with the hook of one wire engaging in the eye of another.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. Inadevice of the described class, thecombination of front, back, bottom and top walls formed'of aseries of parallel slats permanently connected by continuous rows of hinges; end walls, formed of slats having swinging end connection with the slats of one of the firstmentioned walls and foldable to superposed positions thereon; and means for detaehably connecting the end slats with slats on the opposite side of the receptacle from those to which they are hinged, together with means for connecting the respective sides of the slats IOO IIC;

at the respective ends of the first-mentioned series.

2. In ad evice of the described class, a series of slats having iiexible side connection with each other and adapted to form some of the wallsofareceptacle; similar slats havingiiexible end connection with some of the slats of said series, and adapted to form the remaining walls of the receptacle; and a lock for securing the several parts in position, said flexible end connections being adapted to permit the slats forming said remaining walls to be folded inwardly to positions parallel with and superposed upon the slats to which they are connected. Y

3. In a device of the described class, a complete set of inclosing and permanentlyconnected walls, each formed in multiple sections, having flexible connection with each other,the sections of some of the walls having side connection with each other and the sections of other walls being separate from each other, but having-independent end connections with the lFirst-mentioned wall -sections whereby all the sections may be adjusted to parallel positioliis and rolled up in the form of a continuous 1'() 4. In a device of the described class a series of slats flexibly connected by a continuous hingeband composed of separate elements, each secured to the outer face of a slat; other slats arranged in sets, each independent of the others in the set, but having iiexible end connection with one slat of said series and detachable connection with another slat of said series, all the slats being cooperatively arranged to form the walls of a receptacle.

5. In adevice of the described class,a belt of interconnected parallel sections having detachable connection at one point, and adapted to form a plurality of receptacle-walls; and a series of sections independent of each other but having end connection with some of the beltsections and detachable end `connection with opposing beltsections, forming additional walls for the receptacle when fully connected.

6. In a device of the described class,a belt of interconnected parallel sections having detachable connection at one point, and adapted to form a plurality of receptacle-walls; and a series of sections independent of each other but having end connection with some of the beltsections and detachable end connection with opposing belt -sections, forming additional walls for the receptacle when fullyconnected, said additional wall-sections being arranged to fold individually on the inner face of one of the belt-walls.

7. In a device of the described class,a belt of interconnected sections having detachable connection at one point and adapted to form a plurality of receptacle-walls; a set of hinges located on the exterior surfaces of said walls and forming the connections between the sections; all oi' the sections except the corner-sections having abutting edges adapted to permit movement on said hinges in but one direction, and said cornersections being formed with beveled edges adapted to permit movement in two directions,whereby adjacent walls may be adjusted at right angles to each other,together with end walls formed of a series of sections independent of each other but exibly connected with and foldable upon the interior surfaces of the belt-sections.

8. In a device of the described class, a belt of rolled upwith the others in the form of a cylindri'cal roll.

9. In a device of the described class, a belt of interconnected parallel sections having detachable connection at one point, and adapted to form a plurality of receptacle-walls; a series of sections, each independently secured by a flexible connection to the end of one of the belt-sections and adapted to cooperate in forming other walls for said receptacle; means for securing each of said independently-connected sections to a belt-section of an opposing wall from that to which it is connected by the flexible connection, said sections with end connection being oldable upon the belt-sections when the detachable connections are released,

and said belt-sections being arranged to be rolled up with the others in the form of a cylindrical roll, together Awith a locking device adapted to hold said sections in both a folded and an expanded position.

IOO

l0. In a device of the described class, a se- Y,

ries of wall-sections, each provided with a recess; a catch-plate of resilient material, covering said recess; said catch-plate having an aperture and slits at the sides of the aperture subdividing saidplate to form a tongue; a series of swinging wall-sections each having a latch-plate adapted to'enter the aperture i-n a corresponding catch-plate and provided with an extremity bent in one direction to form a hook adapted to engage under the plate on the opposite side of the aperture from said tongue;

said aperture being of suiiicient dimensions to permit the tongue to react in the rear of the catch-plate when the latter is in its interlocking position and said swinging wall-section being adapted to move over the tongue when the latter is pressed inwardly.

11. In a device of the described class, the

combination of a set of flexibly-connected walls adjustable at right angles to each other; an end wall hinged to one side wall of said set and arranged to swing over the surface of the bottom wall of the set; a set of hooks on said end Wall adapted to move in curved channels 2O in the bottom wall, and a set of catches adapted to engage said hooks when the hookcarrying wall is swung to its extreme position in one direction.

12. In a device of the described class', the combination of a set of exibly-connected walls adjustable at right angles to each other; an end Wall hinged to one side wall of saidset and arranged to swing over the surface of the bottom wall of the set; a set of hooks on said end wall, adapted to move in curved channels 2O in the bottom wall; a set of catches adapted to engage said hooks when the hook-carrying wall is swung to its extreme position in one direction; and a set of hooks on the end wall arranged to interlock with suitable catches in the other side wall of saidset.

13. In a device of the described class, a receptacle having each of its walls formed in i multiple sections; some of said walls having sections parallel with Vthose of other walls and connected together by series of hinges arranged in the form of a continuous band; and

walls formed in sections having end hinge connection with some of the sections provided with the band-hinges; said last-mentioned walls being adjustable at right angles 'to the walls having the banda-hinges, and said hinges being formed to permit all the walls to fold in superposed positions.

14:. In a device of the described class, a receptacle having each of its Walls formed in multiple sections; some of said Walls having sections parallel withlthose of other Walls and ALFRED GREENE.'

Witnesses:

JAS. B. ERWIN, LEvERET'r C. WHEELER. 

